Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“You know as well as I do that nobody can make that sorcerer talk if he doesn’t want to.”
“Yeah, he can be an ass. But if he told you to hide what makes you different, he already knows things that you need to know.”
A wry smile pulled up the corner of Alaric’s mouth. “I think you’ve spent too many years with him. That was cryptic as hell, Bain.”
“Just listen to me. My entire life has changed because of Clive. For the better. I never knew I could be this happy, that I’d fall in love like this. Don’t you want the same?”
“To fall in love?” What the hell? “Fuck, no. And I’m really uncomfortable with this, because it sounds like you think that Ezra should have something to do with that. He’s a client, and there are rules, you know. Plus, he’s just so…irritating. Confusing sometimes, but mostly irritating.”
“So you do feel something around him. I knew it.”
“Anger? Yeah, I feel plenty of that.”
“Just talk to Xavier. Again, trust me.”
Alaric stared at him—or more like glared at him, completely flustered from the whole weird conversation. Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Just come inside and eat, you weirdo.”
Bain’s laughter followed him back into the house.
Chapter Eight
Alaric
The next morning, the temperature outside wasn’t too cold, so Alaric took his yoga mat onto the back porch. Like Bain, this was his favorite of their safe houses, but he rarely used it because it was also frequently used for weekend getaways. It was far out enough from the city that it felt like a different world entirely. Surprisingly, there were more birds in Seattle during winter, and they chirped from the forest surrounding the house. There was a chilly breeze that would feel wonderful once he started sweating. The cold didn’t bother him; in fact, he welcomed it.
Wearing only a pair of sweatpants, he moved into his first pose and held it. He closed his eyes and drew the magic from nature deep into his body. It started as a tingle that prickled along every nerve ending, then flowed into a lingering warmth that settled into his belly and chest. It held peace. Peace he desperately needed because the human inside that house had him twisted up.
Ezra was everything he didn’t like. Someone who’d grown up with everything handed to him. Someone who selfishly expected that to continue. Yet, there were the odd glimpses of something different. Marrying to please his father said a lot about how he felt in his family. And true compassion had graced Ezra’s expression a few times. Like when he’d worried over Alaric’s health after he’d healed him at the apartment building.
Then there was the way Alaric was drawn to him—and not just physically, though that was so strong he felt it constantly. It was like that powerful urge to heal him. He simply wanted to take care of the man. See to his needs. Make him happy.
The whole thing just confused Alaric so much he’d needed his yoga time more than he needed to breathe. He moved through the poses, and as he’d expected, the breeze cooled his rapidly heating skin. He kept going, relishing the pull in his muscles, losing himself in the exercises. The whole time, magic flowed through him, which not only kept him warm, but replenished him.
When he moved into the downward dog, he heard a soft gasp behind him. So the perplexing brat was awake. And watching. Alaric could feel the man’s gaze on him. Specifically his ass, since it was up in the air in this position. Surprisingly, his body began to react. He simply couldn’t understand why that kept happening when he held no respect for the rich playboy. Yes, he found him beautiful, but that damn mouth drove him crazy.
Wrapping up his session, he grabbed the towel he’d brought and wiped it over his face and body. Then he turned around.
Ezra stood in the doorway in a pair of low-slung pajama pants that did nothing to hide his erection. Or his shivering from the cold.
Everything in Alaric went still as he sucked in a breath. Ezra had a gorgeous chest—defined with dark nipples, tight from either the temperature or his arousal, and silky looking hair below his navel. And he did nothing to hide his desire. He seemed frozen, a dazed look in his eyes. He licked his lips, opened his mouth, then snapped it shut as if suddenly realizing what he was revealing.
“Did you need something?” Alaric’s own desire roughened his voice.
Ezra shivered, shook his head, and retreated into the house.
Alaric watched, truly stumped over the tangle of mixed feelings Ezra gave him.
“Well, well, well,” said a voice to his right. Finn took solid form and leaned against the wall. “That was one highly tense moment there. Holy shit, even I’m turned on.” He laughed. “You’re not my type but he sure is.”